Coughs and Sore Throats

Nighttime Cough? -

 The ultimate cough suppressant - Vapor rub and socks!!

Its TRUE... In order to quiet night time coughing, before going to bed, rub Vicks vaporub on the bottom of your feet, be sure to put socks on and keep them on. Not sure why it works, there isscientific evidence that it does. So if you are being bothered with a cough especially if it keeps you awake try this remedy!! I have actually used the Walmart brand of vapo rub and it works just as well!!"

 Indulge in a square or two of dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate's theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation.

 To calm a nagging cough that keeps you awake at night, take 2 teaspoons of honey (1 to 2 teaspoons for kids; don't give to children younger than 1), along with 500 mg of Ester C 30 minutes before bed. The vitamin C (nonacidic Ester type won't upset stomachs) boosts the immune system in the early stages of your cough. Research shows that honey works better than either a cough suppressant or no treatment at all for relieving children's nocturnal cough and promoting sleep.

 –Experts: Jacob Teitelbaum, MD; Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, Jenkens/Pokempner director of preventive and alternative medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor

 Sore Throat -

If you have a sore throat, and will have to wait a day or two to get in at the Dr.'s office, try these Home Remedies…

LemonAde

I have used this remedy for years… drinking Real Lemonade numbs the throat and the vitamin C helps the immune system… and also the acidity also helps rid the body of the bacteria. (also a bit more tasty - helpful when you have a child with a sore throat)

I use 1 c. lemon juice, 1 c. sugar, and enough water to fill a half gallon pitcher (<<a new pitcher to help you smile too?)… stir well and drink up!!!

The first few sips may burn a tiny bit, but as I said it will numb it up pretty quickly.

Other ideas :

Salt water

Gargling salt water is probably the best-known and most popular remedy for a sore throat, and for good reason: It works. Aside from drawing moisture out of any bacteria living in our throats, salt water also draws moisture out of our swollen tissues, thereby relieving inflammation. Additionally, a saline environment prevents future bacteria from growing in the first place.

Salt water tends to work best when moderate, rather than excessive, amounts of salt are added to the water. Ideally, you'll want to add no more than one tablespoon of salt per glass of water (warm water is recommended). Then, do around three 10-second gargles in a row around three or four times a day until the infection subsides.

Garlic

Garlic might not be the most appealing remedy for a sore throat, but it's arguably the most effective. Garlic contains numerous bioactive compounds, including the sulfur compound allicin, that possess significant antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and studies have shown that the herb can treat a large number of infections.

To use garlic for this purpose, slice a fresh clove of organic garlic in half, place one half of the clove in each cheek and suck on them like a cough drop. Though there's no need to bite into the garlic pieces, it's a good idea to crush them against your teeth on occasion to release more allicin into the mouth. This routine should be done once per day.

Apple cider vinegar

Like garlic, apple cider vinegar isn't the most pleasant remedy to use, but many people swear by it. While apple cider vinegar alone can treat sore throats (its high acidity makes short work out of most bacteria), mixing a little unprocessed, raw honey into it can improve its taste and soothe any soreness caused by the infection. Cayenne pepper is also a good ingredient to add to apple cider vinegar due to its high concentrations of capsaicin, a proven anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

For best results, mix one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar (along with one tablespoon of raw honey or cayenne powder if desired) into a cup of warm water and drink the mixture first thing in the morning. If you'd rather gargle the mixture than drink it due to its unpleasant taste, it's a good idea to increase the amount of apple cider vinegar in the water to two or three tablespoons.

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